Sachusetts



Nb. 751,547. PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904.

F. V. NICHOLLS.

MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

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PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904.

I. V. NIGHOLLS. MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1a, 1903.

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WITNESSES UNITED STATES Patented February 9, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS V. NICHOLLS, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO STANLEYELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MAS- SACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MOTOR-CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,547, dated February9, 1904.

Application filed June 13, 1903. Serial No. 161,266. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANoIs V. NIoHoLLs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Motor- Controllers, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to controllers for electric motors, and isespecially applicable to the type commonly employed for electricrailways.

The object of my invention is to provide a structure of this type inwhich the parts are so arranged as to be readily accessible and easy tooperate, but which shall permit a controller of much smaller size to beused than has been possible with former arrangements.

Another object of my invention is to provide a form of cut-out switchwhich shall be both simple and economical and which shall enable a motorwhen disabled to be immediately cut out without interfering with theproper operation of the controller.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for interlockingthe various parts of the controller which shall be both simple andefficient and which shall prevent the movement of any switch in thecontroller unless all other switches are in the proper position.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view in cross-section of astructure embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thesame with casing removed and the lower part of the controller brokenaway. Fig. 3 is a plan view in detail of my interlocking device. Fig. Ishows a detail view of a form of cut-out switch embodying my inventiontogether with a diagrammatic representation of the circuit connections.Fig. 5 shows the operating mechanism for the cutout switch.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A represents the controller-drum mounted onthe vertical shaft (0 and properly insulated therefrom. a is theoperating-handle for the controller-drum. B is the drum of thereversing-switch mounted on the vertical shaft Z) with o1ierating-handle b. C represents the cut-out switch mounted on the back ofthe casing D. The switch consists, essentially, of two rows of contacts1 to 8, (shown in Fig. 4,) there being four of these contacts in a row.A moving member 0,

preferably of insulating material, carries four contacts E and E, whichcontacts when both motors are in series connect the fixed contacts infour groups, as clearly indicated in the diagrammatic representation ofthe circuits. The moving member also carries a contact E, which isessentially disposed as compared with the contacts E and E, so that asthe moving member 0 is raised, disengaging contacts E from fixedcontacts 2 and 6, said centrallydisposed contact IE will connect theopposite contacts of the different rows 2 and 6 together. Likewisedownward movement of the vertical member 0 will cause thecentrally-disposed strip E to connect the fixed contacts 3 and 7, whichwere previously connected by contacts E. This movement of the member 0is effected by the rocking of the transverse shaft 0, which has asuitable bearing in the side of casing D and projects therethrough, asshown in Fig. 2. This shaft preferably has an end adapted to receive thehandle Z) of the reversing-switch when it is necessary to operate thecut-out switch. The movement of the shaft 0 is transmitted to the movingmember by the bell-crank c and the bar 0 connected therewith.

In the diagram of connections of Fig. Al the connections to thecontrolling and reversing switches are omitted for the sake ofsimplicity, since they are not'necessary to the understanding of thepresent invention, and since many methods of connection to thoseswitches are well known in the art four motors in two sets of two eachare illustrated; but it is evident that the cut-out switch is' notlimited to this particular number. The fixed contacts of the cut-outswitch are connected as follows: The two top contacts 1 and 5 areconnected either directly or through the reversingswitch to theterminals of the first group of motors, while the lower contacts 4 and Sof the two rows are connected in the same way to the terminals of thesecond group of motors. The four intermediate contacts of the two rows2, 3, 6, and 7 are connected to the proper fingers of thecontrolling-switch, so that when the motors are in the series positiontwo contacts in the same row, as 2 and 3, are connected together,whilethe other two contacts, as 6 and 7, are connected to trolley and ground,respectively. It is evident that when the member 0 of the cut-out switchis in its normal or mid-position each terminal of each group of motorsis properly connected to the controlling-switch. If, however, eithergroup of motors is disabled and should be cut out, this may readily bedone by moving the switch up or down, as necessary, so as to disconnectthe motor-terminals at the end of the row from the next contacts whichare connected to the controlling-switch, which contacts are thenconnected together by the contact E, which is common to the two rows.Thus a movement up will disconnect the terminals of the first group ofmotors from the controllingswitch, and therefore from any part of theworking circuit, but will leave the terminals of the second group ofmotors 4 and 8 in connection with the controlling-switch, while thecontact a, projecting across the controllingswitch terminals 2 and 6,will complete that part of the working circuit ordinarily occupied bythe first group of motors. This switch enables me with a very fewcontacts and with a small and compact arrangement to satisfactorilyprovide for the ordinary functions of such a switch, and as theoperative mechanism thereof projects to the outside of the controller atthe side thereof it can be operated without opening thecontroller-casing, but at the same time it is not in a position toencumber the top of the controller, where there is comparatively littleroom. Furthermore, by adapting the cut-out-switch mechanism to beoperated only by the handle of the reversing-switch I insure that thecut-out switch shall not be operated except when both the controllingand reversing switches are on the off position, since only in thatposition can the handle of the reversing-switch be removed to operatethe cut-out switch.

The interlocking device between the controlling-switch andreversing-switch is shown at F in Fig. 2 and in detail in Fig. 3. On theshaft of the controlling-switch is a disk G, having anupwardly-extending flange 5 and on the reversing-switch shaft is a diskH, having a downwardly-extending flange 7t. Each of these flanges ismade non-continuous, the flange g being in the present instance cut awayfrom g to while the flange 72 extends only over a short part of thecircumference of the disk H and is cut away at two places it and it. InFig. 3 the disks are shown in the off position.

tion the controllingswitch cannot be moved, since the upwardly-extendingflange y would engage the downwardly-extending flange /1 When, however,the reversing switch is moved, the position of flange allows suchmovement that one of the openings lb may be brought opposite to one endof the flange g, while the end of the flange 71/ will be brought to theinterior of the flange y. Under these circumstances thecontrolling-switch can be moved freely, since the flange can passthrough the opening it and around the outside of the flange 71/. Amovement of the re versing-switch in the other direction brings theother opening h in front of the end of the flange r and produces a likeresult. On the other hand, when the controlling-switch has once beenmoved, with the flange passing through one of the openings it, it isobvious that it is impossible to move the reversingswitch. By thismeans, therefore, without any cams, springs, or pawls I am enabled tolock the controlling-switch when the reversing-switch is at the offposition, and .I am also enabled to lock the rwersing-switch when thecontrolling-switch is at the operative position, the purpose of which isold and well-known to the art.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction andarrangement of parts herein shown, since changes therein which do notdepart from the spirit of my invention and which are within the scope ofthe appended claims will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a controller device for electric motors, a controHing-cylinder, areverse-cylinder, and interlocking means for said cylinders, comprisingdisk-like members, or segments, movable with said cylinders adjacent toone another, and cooperating apertured projecting rings on said members,rotation of each member being restrained while the ring of the oppositemember lies in the gates or apertures of its own ring, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination with the controlling and reverse cylinders of acontroller for electric motors, an interlocking mechanism to prevent themovement of either cylinder except when the other cylinder is at apredetermined position, said mechanism COIHIHiSlDg two overlappingdisks, or such segments of the same as are suitable for the purpose, onemounted on the controlling-cylinder and the other on thereverse-cylinder, each disk having a peripheral guard ring or flange thearcs of which lie in a common plane so that said arcs intersect, saidrings each having gates corresponding to the are of intersection oftheringsrespecively, so that if one guard-ring is set with its gatesregistering with the arc of the other ring the latter may pass freelythrough these gates and the corresponding cylinder may rotate freely,but during such passage the first ring and its cylinder are locked bythe second except when the second cylinder and its ring are in one ofthe predetermined positions when its gates register with the arc of thefirst ring.

3. An interlocking mechanism comprising two disks or rings rotatable inadjacent parallel planes and having projections in the form of arcslying in a common plane, said arcs being so disposed as to permit thefree rotation of one ring only when the second ring is in a fixedposition and to permit the free rotation of the second ring when thefirst ring is in one of two fixed positions.

4. In a controller for a plurality of electric motors, the combinationwith controlling and reverse switches, of a cut-out switch comprisingjaws and a movable connecting device to slide between said jaws, saiddevice having contact members acting in various positions of said deviceto connect all the motors into circuit, and to cut out one or the otherof said motors or groups of motors, the circuit being always maintainedby a contact member thrown across the circuit to replace the motor orgroup of motors thus cut out, substantially as described.

5. The combination with two electric motors of a controlling-switch, acut-out switch comprising two rows of fixed contacts connected one halfto the motor-terminals and one half to the controlling-switch, a set ofmovable contacts comprising contacts adapted to connect the said fixedcontacts in pairs, each pair comprising a motor-terminal contact and acontrolling-switch contact and a contact out of engagement with saidfixed contacts when said fixed contacts are all connected in pairs butengaging and connecting any controllingswitch contacts that aredisconnected from their motor-terminal contact when said switch is movedto cut out one or the other motor.

6. In an electric controller for two motors, a controlling-switch, aswitch for cutting out either of the motors having two rows of fixedcontacts end contacts of each row being connected to motor-terminals andcentrally-disposed contacts of each row being connected to thecontrolling-switch, movable contacts adapted to connect said endcontacts to said centrally disposed contacts, and a central movablecontact common to both rows and arranged to connect together whichevertwo of the centrally-disposed contacts that are disconnected by themovement of the switch from the adjacent end contacts.

7. The combination of two electric motors,

a controlling-switch therefor, a cut-out switch having two rows of fixedcontacts connected to the motor-terminals and to the controllingswitch,and having a rectilinearly-moving contact member comprising twoCOIIGSPOIICllIlg rows of contacts and one contact common to the tworows. 7

8. In combination with two electric motors and a controlling-switchtherefor, a cut-out switch having two rows of contacts, the end contactsthereof being connected to motorterminals and the corresponding endterminals of the two rows being connected to the two terminals of thesame motor, connections from the central contacts of each row to thecontrolling-switch, and having a set of movable contacts comprising acentral contact common to both rows and upper and lower contacts foreach row adapted to connect the fixed contacts in pairs.

9. In a controller device for electric motors, a controlling-cylinder, areverse-cylinder, and interlocking means for said cylinders, comprisingdisk-like members, or segments, movable with said. cylinders adjacent toone another, and cooperating apertured projecting rings on said membersso disposed as to permit free rotation of one cylinder only when thesecond cylinder is in one of two fixed positions and to permit the freerotation of the second cylinder only when the first cylinder is in onefixed position.

10. The combination of a controlling-switch, a disk rotatable therewith,a reversin -switch, a disk rotatable therewith, an upwardly-projectingflange on the controlling-switch disk, a downwardly-projecting flange onthe reversing-switch disk, said flanges having openings, said disksbeing in such proximity that either of them is locked by the otherexcept when the openings are in predetermined positions.

11. In an electric controller, the combination of a casing, a pair ofrotatable shafts carried thereby and projecting through the top of thesame, operating-handles therefor, a controlling-switch member carried byone shaft a reversing-switch member carried by the other shaft, arectilinearly-movable cut-out switch carried by the back of the casing,and operating mechanism therefor extending through the side of thecasing.

Signed at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, this 2d day of June, 1903.

FRANCIS V. NICHOLLS.

Witnesses:

L. A. HAWKINS, R. E. HAYNES.

